Film processing apparatus



April 8, 1958 w. v. coLLlNs FILM PROCESSING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 25, 1956 p E95 W. v. coLLlNs v FILM PROCESSING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 25, 1956 WML/4M M @ULL/Ns,

FILM PROCESSING APPARATUS william v. Collins, Park Ridge, N. J. Applicaties Marchas, rasapsenai No. 573,459 A'Claims. (ci. sis- 90) This invention relates to an improved photographic film processing apparatus.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a generally superior device of this kind, which is lmore practical and efficient in operation, and which includes a film rack which is adjustable to accommodate films of different widths and lengths, and whiclris especially suitable for daylight processing of film.

Other objects of the invention are to provide apparatus of the character set forth which eliminates the necessity of the operator handling or coming into physical contact with film processing chemicals, affords rapid and eiiicient handling of the film being processed and enables accurate timing of the film during development, minimizes film spoilage and improper development thereof,`and enables film to be developed in a substantially lighted darkroom whereby likelihood of spilling of developing solutions is reduced, and lending to mass production procedures and overall efficiency.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying 'drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure l is va top plan view of apparatus embodying the features of this invention and showing the turn button thereof disengaged from the keepers;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional View taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view with portions broken away and shown in section, taken` substantially at right angles to Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially on line d-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the illustrated apparatus comprises 'a preferably vertically elongatedand preferably rectangular cross section container ltiwhich has an open upper end 11. v end of the container Il() and engaged in a flaring flange 13 thereon is a lower light-tight fluid pervious screen 12 which comprises a group of vertically spaced baffle plates 14- having flaring peripheral flanges 16 which are vertical and are suitably connected together to define a unitary structure which is light-weight. The baffle plates 14 are provided with openings 18 and 20 which, as seen in Figure 3, for example, are staggered with relation to one another to prevent the transmission of light through the screen 12 while at the same time establishing communication through said screen for the passage of film treating fluids.

Secured to the outer surfaces of two opposed sides of the sidewall 15 of the container 10 and extending above the open upper end 11 thereofA are keepers 22 'having Suitably secured in the lower allyoutwardly therefrom are rests 26 which are encased in rubber bumpers 28 for engaging the open upper end of a tank into which the container l@ is introduced, as hereinafter described. Carried by the keepers 22 and extending laterally outwardly therefrom above the rests 26 are handles 36 by means of which the container 10 may be introduced into or extracted from a tank which contains developing, rinsing, or fixing solution or the like.

A cover designated generally 32 for the container -10 comprises a plate34of rectangular shape provided with a depending peripheral flange 36 and with a depending inner tapered flange 38 `defining with the flange V36a groove di) in which is seated a gasket d2. The groove 4t' is adapted to receive the open upper end 11 of the container 1d with the gasket 4.2 in sealing relation to the upper edge l1. Extending centrally through the plate 34 is a pivot bolt ftd upon which is journalled for rotation a bowled leaf spring turn button 46, opposite ends 0f which are adapted to be depressed and engagedin the slots 24 in the keepers 22, whereby the gasket e2 is compressed on the upper edge of the container it? and effects a light-tight junction therewith.

An 'upper light-tight liquid pervious screen 56 comprises a group of bafile plates 48 having upwardly flaring peripheral anges 5ft which are nested, as shown in Figure 2, in such a manner as to hold the baille plates 48 in spaced parallel and light-tight relation. Extending through the baffle plates d in staggered relation'are openings 42 and 54 which are so arranged as to facilitate the passage of fluid through the upper screen 56. The screen 56 is secured to the inner flange 38 of the cover 32.

Secured to and depending from the bottonirnost baffle plate 48 of the screen 56 is a film rack 76 which comprises a rectangular sleeve 5S having side walls 59 and end walls 61. Secured to the outer sides of the side walls 59 by bolts 60 are vertical plates 62 which depend below the sleeve 58. Positioned between the plates 62 are channels 66 having webs 67 and side flanges 68, the side flanges being engaged with the inner sides of the plates and being provided with upper and lower horizontal slots 70 which are traversed 'by bolts 6d extending through the plates 62. The slots '76 provide for adjustment of ythe channels toward and away from each other to accommodate film of different widths. v

A horizontal upper cross bar 65 extends between the plates 62 in vertical slots 63 in ythe plates 62, providing for vertical adjustment of the bar for lms of different heights or lengths. Secured to and extending inwardly from the inner sides of the webs 67 of the channels 66 are laterally spaced vertical separator bars 72 defining therebetween channels '74 in which the opposite side edges of cut films are to be positioned.

Below the lower ends of the plates 62, a lower cross bar 75, vertically aligned with the upper cross bar 65, extends across the container iii and is secured to opposed sides of the sidewall 15 thereof, for supporting the lower edges of film above the lower screen l2.

To load the film rack '76, the proper spacing between the bars 65 and 7S is made by properly positioning the upper cross bar 65. rlhe channels 66 are adjusted for proper spacing from each other. The apparatus is then taken into a darkened darkroom and the film rack is inverted and the film is inserted in the channels 74. The

container 1@ is then telescoped onto the film rack and both the film rack and container are erected to the posi-y tion shown in Figure 2, and the turn button i6 is rotated to engage in the slots 2d in the keepers 22, so that the film is properly positioned in the film rack and is protected against accidental light exposure byV the, lightf tight fluid pervious'screens l2 and 56 ofthe containery fiand film rack 76, respectively.

With the fili-'n` thus protected witbinthe container, it

is obvious that the container may be introduced into the open upper end of a tank '78 containing a suitable lm treating fluid, such as a developer. As seen, for example, Ain Figures 3 and 4, the tank 7S may include vertically extending space ribs 79 on its sidewalls near its bottom, fand the container It@ may have suitable secured outside vertically extending spacer ribs 8U on the upper portions of its sidewalls and the sleeve S8 may have outside Vertically extending spacer ribs Si, these ribs serving to properly space from each other the lilrn rack, the corr tainer lit, and the tank 78. ln this regard, the various guide ribs between the receptacle and container, or container rand lilm rack, may, if preferred, be secured on either one or the other thereof. The bumpers 2S on the rests 26 engage the upper end il of the container 1t) and hold the lower screen l2 in spaced relation above the bottom of the tank 7 8.

The cover 3.2 has a vent hole 82, Figures l `and 5, to prevent air from being trapped in the upper end of the film rack 76 and to permit treating liuid to move through the baffle plates 54. The sleeve S3 has vent holes 83 in its sidewalls for the purpose of preventing trapping of air when the container and ilm rack therein are introduced into the tank 78. Obviously, the device may be transferred from one tank i8 to another in order to carry forward the processing of the cut lms supported in the rack 76.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In apparatus for processing photographic lm, a container having an open upper end and a lower end, a light-tight liquid pervious lower screen closing the lower end of the container, a tilrn rack comprising a cover rest ing sealingly upon and closing the upper end of the container, a light-tight liquid pervious upper screen secured to and depending from the cover into the container, a vertical sleeve secured to and depending from said upper screen, said sleeve having sidewalls `and endwalls, vertical plates having upper portions and lower portions, said upper portions being secured to related sidewalls of the sleeve with said lower portions depending below said sleeve, a pair of opposed vertical facing channels posiw tioned between said vertical plates, said channels having f webs and side flanges, means securing said side flanges to said vertical plates for adjustment of the channels toward and away from each other, vertical tilm separator bars fixed in and projecting laterally inwardly from said webs, said separator bars being laterally spaced from each other, a lower film supporting cross bar mounted across the container, on a level below said vertical plates and said channels, and an upper cross bar, said Vertical plates having upper portions provided with vertically elongated slots through which said upper cross bar extends for Vertical adjustment relative to the lower cross bar.

2. in apparatus for processing photographic film, a container having an open upper end and a lower end, ya light-tight liquid pervious lower screen closing the lower end of the container, a film rack comprising a cover resting sealingly upon and closing the upper end of the container, a light-tight liquid pervious upper screen secured to `and depending from the cover into the container, a vertical sleeve secured to and depending from said upper screen, said sleeve having sidewalls and endwalls, vertical plates having upper portions and lower portions, Said upper portions being secured to related sidewalls of the sleeve with said lower portions depending below said sleeve, a pair of opposed vertical facing 'channels `positioned between said vertical plates, said channels having ett) webs Iand side anges, means securing said side anges to said vertical plates for adjustment of the channels toward and away from each other, vertical film separator bars fixed in and projecting laterally inwardly from said webs, said separator bars being laterally spaced from each other, a lower film supporting cross bar mounted across the container in a level below said vertical plates and said channels, and an upper cross bar, said vertical plates having upper portions provided with vertically elongated slots through which said upper cross bar extends for vertical adjustment relative to the lower cross bar, said container having a sidewall, and keepers secured to opposite sides of said sidewall and rising above the upper end of the container, said keepers including laterally outwardly extending rests arranged to rest upon the upper ond of a tank in which the apparatus is inserted for supporting the lower screen above the bottom of the tank.

3. ln apparatus for processing photographic tilrn, a container having an open upper end and lower end, a light-tight liquid pervious lower screen closing the lower end of the container, a ilm rack comprising a cover resting sealingly upon and closing the upper end ot the conrainer, a light-tight liquid pervious upper screen secured to and depending from the cover into the container, a vertical sleeve secured to and depending from said upper screen, said sleeve having sidewalls and endwalls, Vertical plates having upper portions and lower portions, said upper portions being secured to related sidewalls of the sleeve with said lower portions depending below said sleeve, a pair of opposed vertical facing channels positioned between said vertical plates, said channels having webs and side ilanges, means securing said side fianges to said vertical plates for adjustment of the channels toward and away from each other, vertical iilm separator bars xed in and projecting laterally inwardly from said webs, said separator bars being laterally spaced from each other, a lower ilrn supporting cross bar mounted across the container in a level below said vertical plates and said channels, and an upper cross bar, said vertical plates having upper portions provided with vertically elongated slots through which said upper cross bar extends for vertical adjustment relative to the lower cross bar, said container having a sidewall, and keepers secured to opposite sides of said sidewall and rising above the upper end of the container, said keepers including laterally outwardly extending rests arranged to rest upon the upper end of a tank in which the apparatus is inserted for supporting the lower screen above the bottom of the tank, said keepers having upper portions projecting above said cover and having oppositely opening slots therein, and a bowed leaf spring turn button centrally pivoted on die cover and having ends arranged to be engaged in the slots under tension.

4. In apparatus for processing photographic iilm, a container having an open upper end and a lower end, a ligl1t tight liquid pervious lower screen closing the lower end of the container, a lm rack comprising a cover resting sealingly upon and closing the upper end of the container. a light-tight liquid pervious upper screen secured to and depending from the cover into the container, a vertical sleeve secured to and depending from said upper screen, said sleeve having sidewalls and endwalls, vertical plates having upper portions and lower portions, said upper portions being secured to related sidewalls of the sleeve with said lower portions depending below said sleeve, a pair of opposed vertical facing channels positioned between said vertical plates, said channels having webs and side flanges, means securing said side anges to said Vertical plates for adjustment of the channels toward and away from each other, vertical film separator bars fixed in and projecting laterally inwardly from said webs, said separator bars being laterally spaced from each other, a lower llm supporting cross bar mounted across the container, on a level below said vertical plates and said channels, and an upper cross bar, said vertical plates having upper portions provided with vertically elongated slots through which said upper cross bar extends for vertical adjustment relative to the lower cross bar, said screens comprising groups of vertically spaced horizontal baille plates having aring peripheral anges thereon, said anges being nested, and staggered openings in said bafile plates.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

